of flats, and the schemes which have been in the planning stage for some years are rapidly taking shape.
7. The estates at North Point and Sai Wan have now settled down and are fully let. So Uk Estate is three quarters finished, and the Ma Tau Wai and Choi Hung Estates are in the active building stage. Detailed progress reports on these estates are included in the Building Section of this report. 2,867 flats have been completed during the year, pro- viding accommodation for 17,879 people. 5,588 flats and 66 shops were under construction at the end of the year.
8. The preliminary planning of these high-density estates takes a long time and has to be started some years before building work can commence. In most cases extensive site works are necessary and when building work starts on a congested site like So Uk, where subsoil conditions are particularly difficult, co-ordination of work on the site is a major task. The buildings themselves rise with amazing speed once the foundations are completed, but the task of co-ordinating the provi- sion of roads, sewers, water and electricity supplies, and other services, is one which needs constant vigilance, considerable flexibility of mind, and even improvisation.
9. The pressure for housing accommodation is so great that time is of the essence in all contracts, and it is pleasing to record that only in exceptional cases have there been serious delays in occupation of flats.
10. When buildings have been completed good maintenance is most important, and this is very well looked after by a maintenance contract let annually, and supervised by the Authority's own maintenance officers.
11. Given good permanent housing accommodation the next most important thing in public housing is good management, and this is looked after by a well-trained and efficient management organization.
12. Rents are collected regularly and arrears are small. Out of a gross rent roll of $5,638,798.44 it was necessary to write off only $22.00 during the year.
13. The process of allocating flats to the families in greatest need is always a complicated, tedious, and expensive business, if it is to be done properly, and it is particularly so in Hong Kong. When dealing with human needs and foibles the utmost tact, patience, and under- standing is necessary, coupled with insight, hardheadedness, and complete integrity. Discipline is necessary but with it must be mixed
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